Physician characteristics and beliefs associated with use of pelvic examinations in asymptomatic women

Prev Med. 2012 Jun;54(6):415-21. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2012.03.012. Epub 2012 Mar 28.

Abstract

Objective: To examine physicians' beliefs about the pelvic examination and identify physician characteristics associated with routine use of this procedure in the United States.

Methods: A total of 1250 United States family/general practitioners, internists, and obstetrician/gynecologists who participated in the 2009 DocStyles survey completed questions on beliefs regarding the utility of routine pelvic examinations for cancer screening. The survey also asked participants how often they performed this procedure as part of a well-woman exam, to screen for ovarian and other gynecologic cancers, to screen for sexually transmitted infections, and as a prerequisite for prescribing hormonal contraception.

Results: A total of 68.0% of obstetrician/gynecologists, 39.2% of family/general practitioners, and 18.7% of internists reported routinely performing pelvic examinations for all the purposes examined (<0.001). Adjusted analyses revealed that the factors most strongly associated with use of pelvic examinations for all purposes were being an obstetrician/gynecologist (odds ratio 8.5; 95% confidence interval 5.8-12.6) and believing that this procedure is useful to screen for gynecologic cancers (odds ratio 3.8; 95% confidence interval 2.6-5.5).

Conclusion: Misconceptions about the utility of pelvic examinations to screen for gynecologic cancers are common. More effective strategies to change physicians' beliefs regarding the value of performing pelvic examinations in asymptomatic women are needed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Clinical Competence / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • General Practitioners / psychology*
  • General Practitioners / statistics & numerical data
  • Group Practice / statistics & numerical data
  • Gynecological Examination / psychology
  • Gynecological Examination / statistics & numerical data*
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / prevention & control
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians' / statistics & numerical data*
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians' / trends
  • Rectal Diseases / diagnosis
  • Rectal Diseases / prevention & control
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / diagnosis
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / prevention & control
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United States
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / prevention & control
  • Vaginal Diseases / diagnosis
  • Vaginal Diseases / prevention & control
  • Vaginal Smears / psychology
  • Vaginal Smears / statistics & numerical data